Part 7/11:
Within their visible successes, the family continued to grapple with dark realities. Although they funded hospitals and community initiatives, the profits underlying these charitable efforts remained tied to the opioid trade. As labor movements grew and pressed for better working conditions in India, the family's prosperity began to be scrutinized for its nexus with colonial exploitation.
Characters like Rachel Beer, Albert’s niece, highlighted the duality of the family’s public image; a powerful journalist who could push progressive narratives yet remained silent on the unseemly origins of their wealth. The 1907 agreement between Britain and China marked a turning point, prompting the Sassoons to diversify their business interests away from opium and into real estate ventures across Asia.